Dispenser for liquids and solids with self-contained spout

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for liquids and solids or the like includes a container body with inter-connected top and bottom walls to form the container with a break-open aperture formed in the top wall and a hollow spout located within the dispenser beneath the aperture so that it can be pulled therethrough after the aperture is opened to form a spout for the dispenser. When the aperture is opened the spout is usually lifted or pulled out of the container body with the portion of the aperture broken free from the top wall and the spout is tapered so the periphery of the aperture will wipe the exterior of the spout clean of and liquids or solids as it is pulled from the container to form a pourable spout through which the contents within the container body may be dispensed.

Newby y Dec. 24, 1974 DISPENSER FOR LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS WITH SELF-CONTAINED SPOUT [76] Inventor: Terrell B. Newby, 1204 Golden Oak I Way, San Jose, Calif. 95120 [22] Filed:

Feb. 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 334,240

[52] U.S. Cl. 222/535, 222/541, 220/85 SP [51] Int. Cl..., ..B65d 17/24 [58] Field of Search 222/535, 540, 541, 566,

222/569; 220/85 SP, 53, 54 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,281,024 10/1966 Henchert 222/541 X 3,298,577 l/1967 Chlystun 220/54 X 3,310,206 3/1967 Littlefield 222/541 X 3,473,705 10/1969 May 222/541 3,481,515 12/1969 Booth 220/85 SP 3,616,961 11/1971 Mallorca 222/541 X 3,752,369 8/1973 Robert 222/541 I Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner'Thomas' E. Kocovsky Attorney, Agent, 0r Firm--Phillips, Moore, Weissenberger, Lempio & Strabala 57 [ABSTRACT A dispenser for liquids and solids or the like includes a container body with inter-connected top and bottom walls to form the container with a break-open aperture formed in the top wall and a hollow spout located within the dispenser beneath the aperture so that it can be pulled therethrough after the aperture is opened to form a spout for the dispenser. When the is pulled from the container to form a pourable spout through which the contents within the container body may be dispensed.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures dispenser systems andmore particularly to adispenser having a self-contained spout with a break-away aperture for opening the container which is normally sealed hermetically or otherwise.

Containers for dispensing liquids or solids are well known and may have serviceable spout systems whereby the contents of the container may be dispersed or dispensed through the spout. In such devices the spout is often integrally formed with the container and primarily designed to'pour the contents of the container therefrom in a controlled manner. Typical of such systems are the "common table salt container which has a liftable spout from which salt can be poured into salt shakersfor table use. However, many of these prior art-containers do notinclude a selfcontained spout which will allow the contents of the container to be dispensed in hard to reach locations,

such as the Oil filler aperture of an automobile engine or the like. Particularly with reference to containers for liquids, such as oil,'it has been the more conventional practice to employ a .separatespout which is inserted into theoil can so the liquid contents can be poured into openings which are difficult to reach. In the typical dispensing of oil from oil cans, a separate spout both punctures the top wall of the container and provides a means by which the contents may be poured into openings in confined Iocationswhich are. difficult to reach without the use of this auxiliary spout. While the-separate spout systems are completely adequate for the purpose for which they are designed, they are relatively expensive and much time can be lost in service stations and the like looking for the spout in order that oil may be added to the crankcase of a conventional piston en-' gine. Further, often the separate spouts leak at gooddeal of oil onto the outer surfaces of the engine when they are utilized and many times are accidently thrown away with the can to which they have been inserted;

As a result there is a need for a container or dispenser having a self-contained spout which is soinexpensive that it can be discarded withthe container. However, such an inexpensive composite spout with the container must be retractable so that it does not prevent economic shipping-and transport of the container, and

a further, it should not leak when being utilized. Also, it

is desirable that the spout itself when confined in containers or dispensers with liquids, be free of such liquids on the outer surfaces of the spout when it is extracted to prevent difficulties in handling the container and to prevent the dripping of the liquid off its surfaces onto areas where the contents of the container are not desired. Y Y

Another need for such a container with a selfcontained spout is the ability to return the spout to the container to avoid the otherwise increase in bulk due to the spouts extension from the container so the re fuse volume will be reduced. v

. Thus it is an object of the instant invention to provide a container for dispensing liquids or solids which has a selfcontained spout within the container that can be quickly and easily extracted from the container to form a composite pourable spout with the container, providing more flexibility and easier. access'in pouring the cult or confined locations.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a concontents of the container in openingswhich are in diffitainer having vent holes or-the like, so when liquids are poured from the container a vacuum will not occur I within the container.

7 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION "The above objects and other objects can be accomplished by providing a container for dispensing liquids and solids or the like that includes inner-connected top and bottom walls closing the container with a breakopen'aperture formed in the top wall and a hollow spout mounted within the container having one end connected to the break-away portion'of the aperture.

This break-away portion normally seals the aperture and when opened'allows the spout, which is connected to this portion, to be pulled out of the container body through the aperture. With a tapered spout the periphery of the aperture can wipe any liquids and/or solids from the surface of the spout so that the spout is free of any liquids and/Or solids which are-confined in the container as it is extracted. Subsequently the contents of the container can be pouredtherefrom through the spout into openings in other vessels. In a preferred embodiment, the spout is generally frustoconical shaped so it has improved sealing and wipingaction'when it is withdrawn through the aperture. Also a separate vent hole may be formed in the top of the dispenser to enhance the flow of liquids from the container through the spout bybreaking any internal vacuum that might result therefrom.

In another embodiment the spout is generally both cylindrical and arcuate and includes an integral vent passage in its cylindrical body to break any internal vacuum as the liquid egresses from the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container which is equipped with the self-contained spout of this invention shown in phantom, as it is configured for shipping and transport;

, therefrom which spout includes an integral vent aperture to enhance the flow of liquids through the spout and shows the spout in the operable condition; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged broken-away cross section of the end of the spout shown in FIG. 4 to show the details of.the vent passage.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated showing a dispenser orjcontainer 1 in accordance with'this invention having aself-contained, extendable spout. The container includes a cylindrical body 11 with interconnected top and bottom walls 12 and-l3, respectively that close the ends of the cylindrical body and are crimped to the circular periphery of the ends of the cylindrical body to seal the container. While the body 11 of the container is illustrated as a hollow cylindrical member, it is to be appreciated that the shape of the container may have any other well-known configuration, known in the container art. However, it is preferable that the top wall of the container be generally of a flat configuration in order that the top wall thereof may be broken open to provide access to the contents of the container and to remove the internally disposed spout. Because the instant invention is designed primarily for liquids, for the purposes of illustration only, the container 10 will be described as-being the type of can used for dispensing motor oils or the like. These containers generally have a paperboard cylindrical body and top and bottom wallsmade of aluminum or similar metallic or plastic materials. 7 I It is to be further appreciated in these type of containers that either thetop or bottom wall can be assembled with the cylindrical body and-thereafter'the container filled prior to'the assembly of the other end wall thereto. conventionally these containers are filled in the above manner andit should be appreciated that the instant invention is compatible with such operations which will not be further described.

More particularly ascan be seen in FIG. 1 a spout 14 is mounted beneath an aperture 15 formed on the top wall of the containerso that the spout is completely contained within the container when the aperture is closed. While the exact location of aperture 15 is a matter of choice, it is preferably located-adjacent to the top peripheral edge 16 of the cylindrical container so that substantially all the contents of the container can be poured therefrom without manipulating the con-.

tainer and to facilitate the egress of the contents. As

can be seen'in drawings and particularly in FIGS. land 2, the spout has a generally frustoconical hollow body portion 17 which tapers from one end to the end. For convenience of the description the portion of the spout directly adjacent to aperture 15 will'be referred to as the top of the spout while the 'portion thereof is located remotely therefrom and will be referred to as the bottom end of the spout. As indicated in FIG. 2, the outer diameter X of the top portion of the body portion 17 is less than the bottom outer diameter Y of the bottom portion of the body portion of the spout. As the diameter Y is generally much larger than the diameter of aperture l5 and the diameter X is only slightlysmaller than the diameter of the aperture it can be appreciated as the spout l4 is extracted from the container, from the position illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1 to the extendedposition shown in FIG. 2, the body portion of the spout will expand the diameter of the aperture and in so doing the outer surface about the body portion 17 of the spout will be wipedclean of any of the liquid contents of the container. Usually thetop wall of the container will be constructed of a light gauge metal,

such as aluminum, and as the tapered spout is extracted from the container it will .cold work" the metal (stretching it) about the aperture and allowing the.

, 4 ally forcefully expanded because of .the tapered body it will provide-a suitable seal about the body portion of the spout at any degree of extension from the container. Generally, the cross section of the spout will be cylindrical and therefore relatively light gauge material can be used for the spout and still have suitable strength to achieve the expansion of the aperture, as indicated above. However,.it should also be appreciated that the spout itself can employ other cross sectional configurations and indeed the top wall of the container itself need not necessarily be metal, as previously indicated. Material such as plastic or the like may function in the manner described above so that the advantages of the invention can be realized.

To prevent complete separation of the spout from the container as it is beingextracted, the body portion 17 of the spout at its bottom end includes a stop flange 18 which ultimately engages the inside surface 19 of the top wall as the spout is extended and prevents further Referring toFIG. lit can be seen that aperture 15 is v normally closed by a break-away portion 20 of the top wall 12. Generally the break-away feature is obtained by scribing, grooving or diercutting the top wall in a generally circular manner so that a force applied to the break-away portion will cause it to separate from the rest of the top wall leaving an open aperture 15. In one sense the break-away feature is well known in the soft drink and beer can art where pop tabs" openers are employed for customer convenience.

More particularly a ring-shaped tab member, shown best in FIGS. 1 through 3, is spot welded to the breakaway portion 20 of the top wall 12 of the container 10 and includes a ring which enables the user to grasp the tab member to lift it from the, surface of the top wall 12. Normally the tab is configured so that it will highly localize the forces on the break-away portion ash is lifted to cause partial separation of this portion from the top wall, along the scribe or die cuts in an area immediately adjacent to the tab member so that the break-away portion can then be completely peeled from the associated portion of the top wall. From the above description it can be appreciated that the break-away portion of the top wall is integral therewith until the tab member is lifted to commence separation of this portion from the top wall. In view thereof the can is completely sealed prior to the lifting of tab member 23 and no.

leakage is possible through the aperture during shipment and transport of the spout equipped container ac-' cording to this invention.

As can best be 'seen'in FIG. 2, after the break-away portion 20 is separated from the aperture 15, the'spout 14 can be extracted from inside the container body beto be swung away from the top end of spout 14 as the break-away portion is lifted from the top wall of the can so that the hinge tab may be utilized to extract the spout axially out of the container, since the tab member, the break-away portion and the hinge tab 21 will be in ,a generally aligned condition. v

The top end 22 of spout 14 can be rounded (not shown) to facilitate the entry of the top end of the spout through the aperture. However, since the top wall 12 is a light gauge metal or the like it will tend to flex outwardly (cone) as tap member 23 is pulled, upwardly from the top wall and thus align the end of the spout with the aperture opening. As previously pointed out, as the top end 22 of the spout 14'is pulled through the aperture 15 the tapered body portion 17 of the spout will commence expanding the peripheral wall of the aperture providing a seal about the body portion of the spout for any degree of extension until such time as In general, hinge tab 21 may be constructed in a manner so that the break-away portion and the tab member 23 are retained on'the end of the spout as the liquid is poured from the container. In this manner the popopen parts of the system do not become litter and are retained with the container. Further, as previously indi- 'cated, the spout may be pushed back into the can after the liquid has been extracted'therefrom with the breakaway portion and tab member 23 attached and of course could be re-extended for subsequent use. In fact. depending on the length of the spout, the whole assembly can be returned to the inside ofthe container once all the liquid has been removed therefrom.

In order to facilitate the egress of liquid contents in the containers of this invention it may be desirable to provide them with a separate air vent to prevent vacuum lock within the container as the contents are poured therefrom. In view thereof reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the top wall 12 is equipped with a small aperture 26 which is normally closed by a mushroom-shaped plug to seal the can during transport and storage conditions. However, after the spout 14 has been'extracted from the container, as described above, the mushroom plug may be lifted with a fingernail or a bladed instrument so that the interior of the container is provided with an air vent as the liquid flows out the spout. This facilitates smooth flow of the liquids from the container by eliminating a vacuum therein, as otherwise might be the case. It also should be appreciated, if desired, that the break-away portion 20 and the tab member 23- can be separated from the end 22 of the spout 14 by bending the hinge tab 21 back and forth until it breaks. While this is undesirable from the standpoint of creating additional litter, or small portions thereof, in some applications it may be desirable to breakaway these parts to facilitate access to confined openings. However, even in this case these portions could be returned to the interior of the container through the aperture when the spout is returned to the is closed by top and bottom walls'30 and 29, respectively, as described above. The principaldifference in the embodiment shown in these figures is the presence of a curved spout 31 which still has a cylindrical body portion 32 but also includes an arcuate curve configuration to allow the spout tobe more easily manipulated in confined locations. With the exception of the arcuate configuration of .the spout the construction of the spout is quite similar to thatof spout 14, as previously described except'it is shown constructed of an elastomeric material such-as plastic. It has the same tapered relationship with the outer diameter X at the top of the spout being smaller than the outer bottom diameter Y thereof and the relationship of the diameter the top of the spout to the size of the aperture 33 in this alternate embodiment is thesame as previously described. Fur-- ther, the alternate embodiment is opened in the same manner as describeda'bove but is different from the spout previously described is that spout 31 includes its own air vent system so math is unnecessary to use a separate airvent in the top wall of the container, as previously described. In this respect reference is made to I FIG. 5 showing that the spout has molded therein an internal passage 35 which vents on the outer surface of up within the container and disturb the flow of liquid therefrom.

The dispensers or containers described above are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and the spouts can be easily made of aluminum or elastomers, such as plastic so that the total cost of the lid or top wall equipped with such a spout is only slightly more than comparable dispensers not so equipped. Also since these types of cans are normally discarded in current practice and the spout of the instant invention is not separated from. the containerbefore or after use, no additional or separate discardable parts are generated by the utilization of this concept.

One of the features of this dispenser is that it has a very clean profile and could be easily sized to fit conventional coin operated machines that dispense cans. As a result oil and engine additives could be automatically dispensed in self-service gas stations or the like since each would have its own spout when this invention is utilized.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. A fluid tight dispenser for materials which has a' 7- aperture in said top wall when thebreak-away portion is removed; and

tubular hollow rigid spout means located within said hollow'body portion, said spout means having a smooth outer 'wall and also having one end thereof attached to the inside surface of said break-away portion so I said spout means can be extracted through the aperture formed assaid break-away portion is separated'from said top wall, said spout means sized to said aperture so its smooth outer wall continuously engages and expands-the periphery of the aperture in a sealing relationship along a substantial portion of the length of said spout means as said spout means is extracted whereby anexterior service spout is formed as said spout is extracted through which materials within the dispenser can be poured therefrom without leakage between the spout means and the aperture.

, 2. The dispenser defined in claim 1 wherein the spout means includes an integral air vent allowing atmospheric gases to enter the container as fluid egresses therefrom through said spout means.

3. The dispenser defined in claim 1 wherein the break-away portion is connectedto the spout means with a tab extending from the latter whereby said break-away portion can be swung clear of the outer opening of said spout means after its extraction.

4. The dispenser defined in claim 1 wherein the spout means has a stop located on its end remote from the break-away portion that limits its extension when said stop engages said top wall when said spout means is extracted.

' means includes lever means to assist in separating the break-away portion from the top wall as the pull means is manually lifted. i I

'7. The dispenser defined in claim 1 wherein the container includes an air' vent means which can be opened to prevent a vacuum from occurring within the dispenser when the dispenser contains liquids.

8. The dispenser in claim 7 wherein the vent means includes a rubber grommetlocated in-an aperture in the container which grommet can be removed to provide the air vent means.

9. The dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein a generally circular groove defines the break-away portion in the top wall of the dispenser which weakens the connection therebetween and wherein the tubular hollow spout is generally cylindrical, said tubular spout sized so its smooth outer wall continuously expands the area of the aperture as it is extracted along a substantial portion of its length, thereby forming a continuous seal therebetween.

10.-The dispenser as defined in claim 9 wherein the elongated spout means tapers. to larger diameter from the end connected to the break-away portion to the end remote from the top wall so it's cross sectional area continuously increases along its length, with said end of said spout means connected to the break-away portion having a cross sectional area substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the aperture so a substantial portion of said spout means has a greater cross sectional area than said aperture.

' 11. The dispenser defined in claim 9 wherein the break-away portion .is located adjacent to one edge of the container.

12. The dispenser defined 'in claim 9 wherein the spout means is curved and has a length approximating the height of the container.

13. The dispenser defined in claim 9 wherein the top wall thereof is formed of a light gauge metal.

14. The dispenser as defined in claim 13 wherein the light-gauge metal is aluminum. 

1. A fluid tight dispenser for materials which has a pop-open feature with a self-contained spout comprising: a container having a hollow body portion closed at its opposite ends respectively by a plate-like top wall and a bottom wall; a break-away portion formed in said top wall; pull means attached to said break-away portion on its outer surface operable when manually manipulated to force a partial separation between said break-away portion and said top wall thereby forming an aperture in said top wall when the breakaway portion is removed; and tubular hollow rigid spout means located within said hollow body portion, said spout means having a smooth outer wall and also having one end thereof attached to the inside surface of said break-away portion so said spout means can be extracted through the aperture formed as said break-away portion is separated from said top wall, said spout means sized to said aperture so its smooth outer wall continuously engages and expands the periphery of the aperture in a sealing relationship along a substantial portion of the length of said spout means as said spout means is extracted whereby an exterior service spout is formed as said spout is extracted through which materials within the dispenser can be poured therefrom without leakage between the spout means and the aperture.
 2. The dispenser defined in claim 1 wherein the spout means includes an integral air vent allowing atmospheric gases to enter the container as fluid egresses therefrom through said spout means.
 3. The dispenser defined in claim 1 wherein the break-away portion is connected to the spout means with a tab extending from the latter whereby said break-away portion can be swung clear of the outer opening of said spout means after its extraction.
 4. The dispenser defined in claim 1 wherein the spout means has a stop located on its end remote from the break-away portion that limits its extension when said stop engages said top wall when said spout means is extracted.
 5. The dispenser defined in claim 1 wherein the pull means includes a ring member whereby it may be manually raised and utilized to extract the spout means from the dispenser when the break-away portion of the top wall has separated therefrom said ring member being connected to said spout means through said break-away portion.
 6. The dispenser defined in claim 5 wherein the pull means includes levEr means to assist in separating the break-away portion from the top wall as the pull means is manually lifted.
 7. The dispenser defined in claim 1 wherein the container includes an air vent means which can be opened to prevent a vacuum from occurring within the dispenser when the dispenser contains liquids.
 8. The dispenser in claim 7 wherein the vent means includes a rubber grommet located in an aperture in the container which grommet can be removed to provide the air vent means.
 9. The dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein a generally circular groove defines the break-away portion in the top wall of the dispenser which weakens the connection therebetween and wherein the tubular hollow spout is generally cylindrical, said tubular spout sized so its smooth outer wall continuously expands the area of the aperture as it is extracted along a substantial portion of its length, thereby forming a continuous seal therebetween.
 10. The dispenser as defined in claim 9 wherein the elongated spout means tapers to larger diameter from the end connected to the break-away portion to the end remote from the top wall so its cross sectional area continuously increases along its length, with said end of said spout means connected to the break-away portion having a cross sectional area substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the aperture so a substantial portion of said spout means has a greater cross sectional area than said aperture.
 11. The dispenser defined in claim 9 wherein the break-away portion is located adjacent to one edge of the container.
 12. The dispenser defined in claim 9 wherein the spout means is curved and has a length approximating the height of the container.
 13. The dispenser defined in claim 9 wherein the top wall thereof is formed of a light gauge metal.
 14. The dispenser as defined in claim 13 wherein the light-gauge metal is aluminum. 